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Can't delete files/folders even though I am the owner/admin

Last response: in Windows 8
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I've searched around a bit and I can't seem to find a discussion about my particular problem.

I cannot delete files or folders from the c: drive, even though I am logged in as Admin with full control and I am also the owner of the folder.
When I go to delete the folder (not just one in particular, happens with any folder/file), I get the "Are you sure you want to move this folder to the Recycle Bin?" prompt and click "Yes".
Then comes the "You'll need to provide administrator permission to delete this folder" and I click Continue, then the progress window pops up showing "moving x number of files to recycle bin" or something like that and gets to 100%, but the folder and all the files remain.
I also cannot rename or move the folder to another location, but I never receive and access denied prompt or anything like that. I can also still access the files after trying to delete them so I know its not just a placeholder left behind.
They only pop up window I've found that shows there is a problem is when I open the Advance Security Settings for the folder and attempt to change Owner, when I click "Change" the window says "Can't open access control editor. the activation requires a display name to be present under the CLSID key."
I tried a quick Google search of that but I couldn't find anything about Windows 8 or something else helpful.
I will also add that I can delete files/folders in Safe Mode with no trouble, but I am more concerned with the cause of the problem than the files themselves.

Any ideas? or am I looking at reinstalling?

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Just an update,

I have found that I can also log into the hidden admin account and delete files using that, but I still cannot access UAC settings. When I click on change user account control settings, I do not get an access denied or anything like that, simply nothing happens.

I'm having the exact same problem.
All I can find online is the odd person with the same problem and and forum posts like this with no replies.
I hate it when I get a problem no one else seems to have, I swear it wasn't doing this before - maybe an update has done it or something. It's doing my head in.
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A workaround is nice but it's just putting a bandaid on a broken bone sticking out of the skin. You can't change any account settings at all including UAC settings or put files in any system folders including Program Files. I would like to find a fix for this issue as I have the same problem as well. I didn't use CCleaner when this issue started happening about 3-4 days ago. When I do use CCleaner I always make registry backups so just incase it was I restored 3 registry backups dating back as far as December of last year and yet the issue still persists. Please help figure out how to resolve this issue. It's really a nuissance.

Just a couple of hours ago I noticed my UAC is completely dysfunctional and this thread should be bought back up. I have exactly the same issue except I cant edit files on my secondary hard drives and some folders on my C drive.
Not sure if this was caused by a windows update which I also did today.

tankmehn said:

I have found that I can also log into the hidden admin account and delete files using that, but I still cannot access UAC settings. When I click on change user account control settings, I do not get an access denied or anything like that, simply nothing happens.

Exactly what is happening to me and I have additional symptoms:

  • When I run "services.msc" I see this error all over the place: <Failed to Read Description. Error Code: 2 >
  • My power options are non-existent/power configurations can't be found (red X).

  • My system runs fine otherwise. What the heck is happening?! :??: 

    • I think a recent Windows Update broke this. I am having the same issues...no options in Power Options as well as the inability to set UAC options, which is strange because I vividly remember switching mine from default to off just the other day.

    I also noticed I do not have the ability to run System Restore to revert back the windows update in question.

    I was having the same issue. I made myself owner and still wouldn't let me delete the folders. I realized that I had to add myself to the permissions list as well: security, edit, add. and under advanced security settings, change permissions, make sure you click replace all child object permissions to be able to delete objects within the folder....Hope this helps/works...
    • Quietx has edited this thread
    • Quietx has edited this thread
    • Quietx has edited this thread
    Anonymous

    same problem here: administrator and cannot access user access control, cannot change time etc. Unless I disable UAC manually using a registry key, but then Metro apps stop working.

    Is there no solution?

    Same issue here , no power options available , cant change anything with the user accounts even though i'm the admin , cant delete an empty folder from C: drive even it pops us as its working on something , when trying to uninstall programs it says an error occurred - it may have been already uninstalled and the program is still there... Microsoft has really messed up this version of Windows , wish i could go back to the good old W7...

    I fixed the change of time and date through the bios as windows didn't let me so this might be a solution for someone with the same problem...
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